Myanmar’s military junta and the country’s main opposition group have agreed to extend a cease-fire to allow humanitarian assistance following a devastating earthquake, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Friday after holding rare high-level talks.

The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military seized power in 2021, toppling the elected government and establishing the State Administration Council (SAC).

In late March, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, killing over 3,600 people and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Speaking to reporters in Bangkok, Anwar — who also chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — said he held discussions starting Thursday with both junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and representatives of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which opposes military rule.

The talks aimed to ease hostilities and open the door for urgently needed humanitarian aid.

“There will be a cease-fire and no unnecessary provocations, because otherwise the whole humanitarian exercise would fail,” Anwar said. “My initial exchanges with both the SAC prime minister and NUG have been very successful.”

Following the earthquake, the junta declared a 20-day cease-fire on April 2, which the NUG echoed with a similar announcement. Still, despite the truce, military operations and airstrikes have reportedly continued in some regions, according to the United Nations and monitoring groups.

Over 3.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict, while Myanmar’s economy has suffered immense damage.

Anwar said ASEAN would continue engaging both sides to ensure aid reaches those in need, regardless of which group controls the territory.

A NUG spokesperson welcomed ASEAN’s efforts but expressed concern about inadvertently legitimizing the junta.

“We understand that ASEAN, in its role as a regional body, may seek to engage with all actors involved in Myanmar’s situation,” the spokesperson told Reuters. “However, it is crucial that such engagement does not grant legitimacy to the military junta led by Min Aung Hlaing.”

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry also expressed support for Anwar’s initiative. “This is a positive first step for ASEAN to engage with Myanmar,” said ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura, underscoring the importance of halting violence to enable aid efforts.

A Possible Opening for Peace

Analysts say Anwar’s willingness to engage directly with Myanmar’s generals — despite ASEAN’s past exclusion of the junta from high-level meetings for failing to implement a peace plan — could create a new opening for diplomacy.

Fuadi Pitsuwan, a political analyst at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, urged the inclusion of Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups in the dialogue, noting their control over significant border territories.

“They are critical stakeholders in any viable peace process,” he said.

Anwar reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to its five-point peace plan for Myanmar, pledging continued engagement in support of peace, reconciliation, and the well-being of the Myanmar people.

In a Facebook post, he wrote, “We will continue to engage all parties in support of peace, reconciliation and the well-being of the people of Myanmar.”

Saw Taw Nee, a spokesperson for the Karen National Union — one of the country’s oldest ethnic armed organizations — urged ASEAN to formally recognize the role of ethnic groups in the peace process. “ASEAN leaders must give credit and recognize us,” he said.

Questions Over Upcoming Election

The renewed diplomatic effort comes as Myanmar’s junta prepares to hold a general election in December. Critics have dismissed the vote as a sham aimed at solidifying military control through proxy parties.

In Bangkok, Anwar emphasized the importance of a free, inclusive, and credible election, noting that this message had been clearly delivered to the junta.

But some experts remain cautious. “Min Aung Hlaing has shown that he cannot be trusted,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University. “So ASEAN under Anwar has to be careful not to get taken for a ride.”

BOB Post